Rating: 
Summary: What was a dumb English assignment became...
Review: ... the opportunity to read a truly touching book. Our teacher told us we had to choose a novel from Oprah's book club to read for a presentation due in class. Since all the novels she chooses involve characters who often need a few thousand doses of prozac, I wasn't exactly excited about this assignment. When I saw Where the Heart Is, I decided it sounded at least somewhat happy- it was better than one about a woman being falsely accused of murder. I read it, and I found a treasure of a novel. The story jumps around a bit, skipping over many details. Often times, Letts leaves a scene hanging, only to let the reader know what happened six weeks ago in the next chapter. The style is little difficult to follow at first, but I grew to like it. It really resembles Novalee's (our heroine) lifestyle. Every chapter is a puzzle piece. In the end, the puzzle pieces do not all align perfectly as you expect them to, but then again, Novalee is only 25. She has so much more of her life to live; her puzzle is not yet complete. Ms. Letts brings life to stereotypical characters and wins their way into our hearts. Her message is simple yet profound. The book in itself is a small part of everyone's continuous journey to where the heart is.
Rating:
Summary: wonderful
Review: Beautifully written from the heart, this book captures the quirky and heartfelt moments of day-to-day life. You will fall in love with the charectors and plot, and will want to read chapters over and over, just to get those bittersweet pangs and warm feelings. And out-and-out great book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best.....
Review: "Where the Heart is" is not the best of books, although it is entertaining if you are looking for a light read. The love sideplot is very obvious and some of it is not realistic, but it is a feelgood book and if you are looking for something uplifting you could do a lot worse. The bottom line is, you will enjoy it if you can suspend disbelief and try to get involved with the story, but it isn't one of those books that stays with you or really touches your heart. Recommended instead: An Almost Perfect Moment, by Binnie Kirshenbaum
Rating:
Summary: Best Book EVER!
Review: Where the Heart Is was the best book I ever read! I don't even have to tell you why, just get it and read it today no matter what!
Rating: 
Summary: Simple Beauty
Review: At first glance, this book comes across as a very simple, easy, light read. It is a nice story, heart-warming and down to earth. But once one starts to mull this story over, it becomes apparent that the story line is built on layer after layer of contrasts, ironies, and stark opposites giving the tale more depth than is immediately apparent. Novalee is a motherless girl who, despite all odds becomes a loving mother. She is the throwaway girl who becomes a hero. Sister Husband is a Christian woman who hands out bible leaflets by day, and indulges with Mr. Spock at night.
Set in a small town in rural Oklahoma, the community that the main character Novalee comes to know and cherish here could represent any small town, anywhere in America. The quirky, lovable, and loving people who populate this book sometimes stretch the reader's sense of credibility, but who doesn't know a Lexie, with her wacky ideas and theories on dieting, or a Forney Hull, with his deep love of the written word? The author does not let the caricatures get away from her; all of these people come across as real. Wacky....but real!
Finally, I loved the names in this story: Novalee Nation, who names her daughter Americus Nation. Wonderful!! Forney Hull,
Sister Husband (and her deceased brother, Brother Husband, who doesn't really have a role in the story, but whose name still jumps off the page!!) Moses and Certain Whitecotton. These are some great names.
All in all, I thought this was a very nice book. It was an easy read; I finished it up in a matter of 4 - 5 hours. It had a message, but it managed to give that message in a manner that was thoroughly subtle way. I hope you enjoy it too!
Rating:
Summary: May become boring for some readers...
Review: I am an avid reader, and have only missed finishing 3 books that I have started reading - this was one of the three. I enjoyed the book at first, but the more I got into it, the more bored I got. I do admit, that I often read "action" or sci-fi books, so this is not my usual genre. I would suggest the book to people who really enjoy reading about something that turns out happy, even through bad luck. This is a good book for people who enjoy reading about every day lives and like calm books. I do not think this was a bad book, I just do not think this is the type of book for someone who is accustomed to reading books that involve complex plots with lots of twists.
Rating:
Summary: HEART-WARMING READ
Review: I am 17 years old and I chose to read this book for an English Essay. I read a lot of the reviews on this site after I read the book and I realized that the people who gave it poor reviews have absolutley no imagination whatsoever. The book is kind of fluff and easy to read but it's very enjoyable and it does wonders for your mind because you can really imagine and feel for all the characters.
Although the names in the book were..I guess you could say odd, I just enjoyed it because they were unique instead of the same old same old names that are always used. It was a wonderful book that i could not put down and I would recommend it to anyone that likes to let there imagination run wild. Because really thats what books are for.
Rating:
Summary: It's getting better all the time
Review: The beginning of this book was unbearably depressing. I almost gave up after the first chapter. However, it was the first time I ever bought an ... Book Club book, so I stuck it out. This turned out to be worthwhile. Things kept getting better and the ending was really good. The characters are very interesting and well-developed. The book really capsulizes the old-fashioned American dream. The real American dream was not to be fabulously wealthy, but rather to be able to work hard and get enough money to build yourself a small house to raise your family in. Here a pregnant teenager with no family to fall back on manages to grow up and do this very thing, with a lot of help from her friends.
Rating:
Summary: A Portrayal of Real Life
Review: I read this book many years before the movie and Oprah made it popular. No other book has touched my heart in such a big way. I wish I never saw the movie. It does this book no justice!!!! It is so real, real people, real problems. I truly believe this is the book that made me the absolute book lover I am today. I couldnt put it down. It put me in this fantasy world like no other book ever has. I just sat and sympathized right along with Sister Husband. It is amazing how many problems Novalee had, but then I dont know anyone who has less. Do you?
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book-you won't be able to put it down.
Review: This book is just fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. The way author Billie Letts captures the character of heroine Novalee Nation is spellbinding. For those who love books with a deep Southern undertone, this book is for you. The names of the characters alone will keep you in stitches. Although I am not a fan of Oprah's picks for her book club, most are highly depressing and traumatic adventures, I could not put this down until I read it cover to cover. And, while you're at it, see the movie as well. Very few movies are as good as their book influence, but it's worth the time to read AND watch.
|
